Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1887-06-11
POLlcEMEN'S ODD TRICKS.


one PoOr Fellows Mlstake-Out OF .
Bad scrape With Flying Coiors.
After saluting his superior officers the
patrolman, evidently much relieved, re-
joined the reporter, remarhing that he
had probably seen the last Of them for
that tour at least.
IL have been In this precinct several
years, he continued, CHANGING at the blue
stripe on his sleeve, and have been fortu-
nate in having had but few complaints
before the commissioners. There Is q
good deal of luck In this; some men are
dismissed, IL often seems, for what others
are fined a days pay for. The rules Of
the department are, in the letter, SO strict
that a man may get q paper from q
cranky roundsman for stopping q couple
Of minutes to talk to a citizen, being q foot
or two of post, not patroling to the right
or for some trifling breach Of y seemingly
%unimportant regulation.
~ remember the case OF one poor fellow
who was broke for doing what he supposed
to be right. His post was ut the limit OF
the precinct, and one night he was sum.
moned TO the adjoining one by word that
q desperate fight was In progress there.
Investigation brought TO light simply q
war of words between two families resi-
dent in the same tenement house. The
roundsman caught him and the commits
sioIers censured him roundly for being of
his beat. Not long afterward what he be-
lieved to be q similar case occurred and he
declined TO leave the precinct. This time
It proved to be a murder, and he was dis
charged for dereliotion of duty.
81 remember a little episode which oc-
CURED last winter in which two policemen
1900 ~ 6@l nv., trith H,sv,.r nnl-
ors. 1t was a very cold night, or rather
morning, and, having seen their rounds,
they thought the way clear for a little rest.
So they hied to alivery stable on one mans
post and adjacent to that Of the other, and
were soon asleep in its warm office. An
hour or SO later their slumbers were rudely
broken by q roundsman's rap, sounding
clear and loud from the next corner. What
10 do was the question. One thing was
| certain-they must remain under cover
| while the roundsman was In sight. After
| minutes which seemed hours their supe.
perior disappeared down the beat. Seiz.
Ing two sets of harness the patrolmen left
tho stable, and, running to the station
house, deposited their burden before the
| desk. Their explanation was clever,
| though somewhat far from the facts.
"Patrolman No. l told the sergeant that
| he had seen q man in the distance carry
| ing u load and acting suspiciously. Rap
ping for assistance, patrolman No. . joined
him and they pursued the fugitive, who
| dropped his burden and ran SO fast that
| owing to his long start he escaped. In the
| pursuit they found the two sets Of harness,
which presumably had been stolen. At
| this juncture the roundsman came in pre-
| pared to report the absence from post Of
the two delinquents, but their story stood
the test, and they did not have to repeat it
| to the commissioners. Next day the hv-
cry stable keeper, having been posted duly,
reported his loss, recovered his property
and warmly complimented the efficient
policemen. New York World.